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Members of the Trent Women's Rugby Team returned from a rewarding trip to Ireland on February 25, 2001. While on tour, the team played three matches and visited many historical sites. Upon their arrival in Dublin on Sunday February 18, the players and their coach, Sean Burton '98, took full advantage of the opportunity to visit Trinity College, the famous Book of Kells and several of the parks in the city center. It was the beginning of a week of site seeing and rugby matches.

The following day the team traveled south to the city of Cork. Their first match was a 10-0 loss to Clonakilty Club. The game was played in six-inch mud, against a team at the peak of their rugby season. The girls were satisfied with their work on the field and delighted by the hospitality shown by the host team. With the exception of the concussion received by Lauren Watts, the team was remarkably uninjured after their first game in four months. When not playing, the team took in some of the Cork attractions and the surrounding area's many sites including a night of theatre, a visit to the Jameson's Distillery and an expedition to Blarney Castle.

On Wednesday the team arrived in Galway on Ireland's western coast. Their second game was played against the Galwegieans RFC on Thursday February 22, again resulting in a loss. However, winger Myra Irving proved her dedication to the team by scoring a try at the end of the game to bring the score to 10-5 for Galway. For her troubles she received a twisted ankle and the admiration of her teammates. In spite of the long sojourn from the sport, the Trent team's fitness made this match thrilling to the last moment. While Galway tired towards the end of the game, the players in the pack had compensated for the problems encountered when playing in deep mud and thick peat smoke. The team was certainly looking forward to meeting their last opponents in Drogheda on Saturday.

En route back to Dublin on Friday, TWRFC visited the monastery of Clonmacnoise, founded in 540 AD, and the Guinness Storehouse. After a Saturday morning at the National Museum of Archaeology and History, the team prepared for their final match in a town north of Dublin against Boyne RFC. Due to the injuries accumulated in the previous games, Trent started the game short on players. Despite this handicap and the high tackles of the opposing team, Kirsten Fuller quickly scored a try directly between the uprights. This allowed the kicker and captain, Christie Woogh, to successfully kick the conversion. Angie Schultz '95, a Trent Alumna on tour with the team, scored the second try of the game after a long series of scrums, rucks and mauls up the pitch. The Boyne team retaliated and pushed Trent back into their own end. While defending the line, winger Heather Loucks received an atrocious knee injury. When play resumed, Boyne club scored their first try of the match. Though Trent tried to regroup after halftime, Boyne scored again. Now short two players in the backs, fullback Colleen Carew and inside-center Kelly Broek, together, covered their own positions and those of the two missing wingers. Broek scored a third try and Woogh, again got the conversion. With only minutes to spare in the game, eightman, Carol Sparks scored a fourth try, bringing the score to 24-10 for Trent. At the gathering after the game, Carew was named player of the match for her superb defensive and offensive game as fullback/winger.

The team would like to thank the following for their support of our tour: Trent University, Paul Wilson and all the staff at the Athletic Complex, the Peterborough Rugby UFC and Maureen Hughes '89. Special thanks also to our sponsors Kawartha Lakes Brewing Company and Burnt Images.

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